Dhawan posts ton before Sri Lanka hit back

Following Dhawan's departure, India began to lose wickets at regular intervals as Lakshan Sandakan took out Cheteshwar Pujara for eight runs, while Pushpakumara clean bowled Ajinkya Rahane for 17.

When Virat Kohli and his men take the field against Sri Lanka in the third and final Test on Saturday, they will aim to become the first Indian team to complete a whitewash in an overseas three-Test series.

The duo scored 134 runs in the opening session and threatened to take Sri Lankan bowlers to the cleaners before Pushpakumara removed Rahul in his first over in the second session.

India centurion Shikhar Dhawan said he had no regrets over his dismissal on day one of the third Test with Sri Lanka, jokingly stating: "If you bat like a king, you should also get out like a king". Those who are batting now (Wriddhiman Saha and Hardik Pandya) are capable of scoring big runs and it's a wicket where it is not spinning but it doesn't have bounce, so it's not easy to score runs out there even the outfield is not that quick.

Courtesy Dhawan's (119) sixth Test hundred and a record 18-run opening stand with KL Rahul (85), India looked good for a score close to 400 after opting to bat.

For Rahul, it was his seventh successive fifty in Test cricket overtaking Gundapppa Viswanath and Rahul Dravid (both with six half-centuries each).

The 26-year-old, replacing the injured Rangana Herath, also removed the unsafe Kohli with the right-handed batsman out for 42 after getting an edge to slip.

Lakshan Sandakan bagged two wickets while Vishwa Fernando also chipped in with a wicket.

When asked about Jadea's replacement in the third Test, Kohli said that Kuldeep Yadav is a kind of bowler who is willing to bowl in any situation and he has a very good chance of playing tomorrow.

Dhawan then was picked up quite stunningly by the captain Dinesh Chandimal, who dived full length to his left at square-leg to snaffle a sweep.

Sandakan was the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers, capturing five for 132, his first five-wicket haul in tests.

Pandya then struck a body blow with the ball as well trapping Angelo Mathews (0) lbw in the 10th over as Lanka were reduced to 38 for 4.

Kohli and Rahane ensured that the visitors did not suffer any more setbacks before tea as the Lankans went into the break well satisfied with the outcome of the post lunch session.

Chameera meanwhile, last played a Test in South Africa past year, but featured in four of the five ODIs against Zimbabwe - the series that Sri Lanka lost 2-3.